Heroes to Hostages, America and Iran 1800-1988

bout the Event This book narrates the history of America and Iran, and its diplomacy, by shifting attention to social and cultural concerns. As Iranians observed global crises such as apartheid and race riots unfold in South Africa and the United States, they sharpened their understanding of racial politics. At the same time, Iran tried to assume a prominent role in these debates by hosting the UN Human Rights Conference in 1968 at a time when the US was mired in an unpopular war in Vietnam. American culture gained ascendancy in Iranian urban life. Much of the country’s business filtered through American hands. Persian popular culture, however, derided American politics and reflected growing suspicions about America’s international relations. About the Author Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet is the Walter H. Annenberg Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania, where she has been teaching since 1999. Her research deals with identity politics, diplomatic and ethnic relations, and gender relations. She currently serves as president of the Association for Iranian Studies.